If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

SilvrSurfr sets a personal mileage record!

I've been trying to up my mileage on the trail. When I started hiking two years ago with my 60 lb. pack, I could hike maybe five miles tops. Gradually I worked my way up to 7.5 miles. After numerous gear purchases like an HG CF tarp, HG Phoenix/Burrow, and GoLite Jam 50L, i was able to get up to ten miles a day.

This weekend I set out in the Pine Barrens to shatter my previous record for miles hiked in two days. My goal was to hike 26 miles in two days. I know this is paltry mileage compared to Fronkey and others, but I got to take one step at a time!

I got to Batsto at 2:45 pm and hiked 14 miles (with detours) to Batona in 4 hours, averaging 3.5 miles per hour. I took zero breaks, and never took my pack off. All my snacks were in my Ribz pack so I snacked as I walked.

On the trip back, I was planning to hike back to Batsto on the Batona Trail, but my legs were feeling it. SilentOrpheus offered me a ride to Atsion Lake, so I decided to hike the Mullica River Trail, 9.5 miles back to my car at Batsto Village. Of course, I got lost on a couple of occasions, and ended up hiking 10 miles.

Nevertheless, 24 miles in two days is a new record for me, at least intentionally. I've hiked more mileage getting lost, but this is the first time I actually intended to hike such a distance.

The hamstrings were barking, but a soak in the jacuzzi and a couple of aspirin later and I feel right as rain. Looking forward to hiking the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon this weekend, where I hope to talk Perrito into hiking 33 miles in two days, which will be a new personal best.

I got a small blister on the inside of my heel, but applied moleskin and kept on trucking. After the PA Grand Canyon, I'm taking on the entire 53 miles of the Batona Trail this fall, in three days. I think I'm ready.

3.5MPH is a speedy clip. Is that usual? If so, it might be associated with a higher heart rate than can be sustained, and so less total mileage in a day than you want to hike.

I finished 22 miles @ 18.3MPH on a bike this afternoon, a personal best speed --with virtually no climbing whatever. I know that century rides will be easier than they have been for the training done at speed (for me). But, that's only if I learn to slow down and ride at a lower heart rate. Too much time in the red zone leads to fatigue for me.

3.5MPH is a speedy clip. Is that usual? If so, it might be associated with a higher heart rate than can be sustained, and so less total mileage in a day than you want to hike.

I finished 22 miles @ 18.3MPH on a bike this afternoon, a personal best speed --with virtually no climbing whatever. I know that century rides will be easier than they have been for the training done at speed (for me). But, that's only if I learn to slow down and ride at a lower heart rate. Too much time in the red zone leads to fatigue for me.

Heart Rate Monitors (HRMs) are useful, if somewhat embarassing.

No, 3.5 mph is not normal for me; I usually average 2.5 mph. However, I was determined to avoid hiking at night, and SilentOrpheus had cold adult beverages waiting at Batona Camp. That was plentiful motivation.

I monitor my heart rate manually - hiking on flat ground like the Pine Barrens is not even worth monitoring. However, when I'm hiking elevation like on the AT, I closely monitor heart rate so I don't explode my heart.

On the hike back, a mere ten miles, I reverted to my previous ways and averaged 2.5 mph. I needed a lot more calories on day two, so I took two or three calorie-ingestion breaks where I took off the pack and relaxed.